Julián Speroni

Julián Maria Speroni (Spanish pronunciation: [xuˈljan espeˈɾoni]; born 18 May 1979) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Julián Speroni
Speroni warming up for Crystal Palace in 2015
Personal information
Full name Julián Maria Speroni[1]
Date of birth (1979-05-18) 18 May 1979[2]
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1997–1999 Platense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Platense 2 (0)
2001–2004 Dundee 92 (0)
2004–2019 Crystal Palace 371 (0)
Total 465 (0)
National team
1998 Argentina U20 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Having started his career at Platense, he played three seasons in the Scottish Premier League with Dundee before joining Crystal Palace for £750,000 in 2004. He played 405 matches across all competitions for the club. On 9 May 2019, it was announced that Speroni would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the 2018–19 season. After not finding another club he announced his retirement after 20 years.

Club career

Dundee

Speroni was born in Buenos Aires.[2] He started his career with Club Atlético Platense, in his homeland, but moved after just one year as a professional and two matches,[4] to Scottish side Dundee. Dundee manager Ivano Bonetti received advice from an Italian contact to Speroni's potential. The move to Dundee was delayed for two months, due to administration delays in Argentina, holding up Speroni's application for an Italian passport.[5]

Crystal Palace

He signed for Crystal Palace, newly promoted to the Premier League, on 13 July 2004, for a fee of around £750,000.[6] Speroni made his debut for Palace against Everton in a three goals to one defeat. Speroni only started the first six games for his newly promoted team in their Premier League campaign, before he was replaced by Hungarian international Gábor Király.[7]

His first three seasons at Selhurst Park saw him largely play understudy to Király who made the goalkeeping spot his own. This was until the Hungarian departed Selhurst Park at the end of the 2006–07 season. Back in the line-up Speroni flourished and won his reputation back. Palace managed to reach the play-offs with Speroni earning a new three-year contract at the end of the 2007–08 season and the club's "Player of the Year" award. At the end of the following season, he retained Palace's "Player of the Year" award.

In the 2009–10 season, Speroni again drew praise. Like at Dundee, his club fell into financial difficulty, and finished the season in administration. This meant a ten-point deduction, and survival was only secured on the final day of the season. For his role in this, Speroni was given a new record, becoming the first man to win Palace's "Player of the Year" award for three consecutive years. Then on 10 December 2010, Speroni agreed a ​3 1⁄2-year extension to his current contract.[8]

At the end of the 2013–14 season, Speroni was named Player of the Year for the fourth time.[9] His contract expired early into 2014 and he subsequently negotiated contract offers with Crystal Palace, Sunderland and West Brom.[10][11] On 13 June 2014, Crystal Palace announced that Speroni had signed a new contract with the club for 12 months with a further 12 month option.

Speroni was rewarded for his years of service to Crystal Palace with a testimonial match against Dundee on 26 May 2015.[12] Speroni made his 347th league appearance for the club, breaking John Jackson's record as the team's goalkeeper with the most league appearances, against Arsenal on 21 February 2015.[13]

In March 2015, prior to the testimonial, Speroni was inducted into the Dundee Hall of Fame picking up the International Award which was previously won by fellow countryman Claudio Caniggia.[14]

On 22 May 2015, Speroni signed a one-year contract extension at Crystal Palace to keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2015–16 season.[15] He was dropped to third-choice goalkeeper in that season, behind Wayne Hennessey and Alex McCarthy,[16] but still played two league games, including the league match against Southampton in the final day of the season, when he equalled John Jackson’s club appearance record as a goalkeeper in all competitions.[17] He signed another one-year contract extension on 13 June 2016 to remain with the club until the end of 2016–17 season.[18] On 14 October 2017, he was named a starter in Palace's match day squad again, helping them to a 2–1 win over defending champions Chelsea.[19]

In May 2019 it was announced that Speroni would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the 2018–19 season, after 15 years with the club.[20] Speroni remains the last player born in the 1970s to play in the Premier League.

International career

In November 1998, Speroni was named in the squad for a friendly against Japan U20 in Tokyo.[21] In December 1998, he was called into the Argentina U20 pre-selection squad for the 1999 South American U-20 Championship,[22] Argentina's under 20 team played friendlies against Hungary and Denmark. On 30 December José Pékerman did not name him in the final squad.[23]

Speroni made one appearance for the Argentina U20 team.[24]

Personal life

Speroni also holds an Italian passport, for which he qualified through his grandfather.[5]

Speroni owned a restaurant in Purley, south London that was named "Speroni's".[25] The restaurant closed in October 2016 following "structural issues".[26]

Speroni is also on the board of reference for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights.[27]

Career statistics
Speroni training with Crystal Palace in 2011.
Source:[28]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Platense 2000–01 Primera B Nacional 2000000020
Dundee 2001–02[29] Scottish Premier League 170400000210
2002–03[30] Scottish Premier League 380602000460
2003–04[31] Scottish Premier League 37020304[lower-alpha 1]0460
Total 92012050401130
Crystal Palace 2004–05[32] Premier League 6000200080
2005–06[33] Championship 4000400080
2006–07[34] Championship 5000000050
2007–08[35] Championship 46000002[lower-alpha 2]0480
2008–09[36] Championship 450300000480
2009–10[37] Championship 450502000520
2010–11[38] Championship 450102000480
2011–12[39] Championship 420002000440
2012–13[40] Championship 46000003[lower-alpha 2]0490
2013–14[41] Premier League 370200000390
2014–15[42] Premier League 360100000370
2015–16[43] Premier League 2000000020
2016–17[44] Premier League 0020000020
2017–18[45] Premier League 110002000130
2018–19[46] Premier League 1010000020
Total 3710150140504050
Career total 4650270190905200
  1. UEFA Cup (Europa League)
  2. Appearance in Championship play-offs

Honours

Crystal Palace

Individual

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 389. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. "Julián Speroni profile". CPFC.co.uk.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Interview with Speroni 2002
  6. "Speroni joins Palace". BBC Sport. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. King, Ian. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–2011. Derby Books. pp. 426–27. ISBN 9781780910468.
  8. "Speroni commits to Palace". Sky Sports. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. "Speroni Lands Fourth Player of the Year Award". Crystal Palace F.C. 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  10. "Premier League clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  11. "Julian Speroni could leave Crystal Palace". Daily Express. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. "DUNDEE TO PLAY IN SPERONI TESTIMONIAL". Dundee F.C. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  13. "Speroni Breaks League Record". Crystal Palace F.C. 25 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. "2015 Dundee FC Hall of Fame 2". Dundee F.C. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. "Speroni Extends Eagles Stay". Crystal Palace. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  16. Daly, Jim (19 March 2016). "Julian Speroni deserves chance to shine for Palace amid keeper errors". ESPN. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. "Delaney and Speroni Sign New Deals". Crystal Palace. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  18. "Crystal Palace duo Julian Speroni and Damien Delaney sign new one-year deals". BBC. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  19. "Crystal Palace FC Report: Crystal Palace 2–1 Chelsea". Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  20. "Julian Speroni: Goalkeeper to leave Crystal Palace after 15 years". BBC Sport. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  21. "La nómina del Sub 21" (in Spanish). La Nacion. 11 November 1998. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  22. "Farías y Duscher se agregaron al plantel" (in Spanish). clarin.com. 27 December 1998. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  23. "Ya está la lis20" (PDF) (in Spanish). diariohoy.net. 30 December 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  24. Garavaglia, Andres (12 February 2014). "Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni targets Argentina place". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  25. "Crystal Palace keeper Julian Speroni opens new restaurant". Croydon Advertiser. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  26. "Crystal Palace legend Julian Speroni reveals why his Purley restaurant closed down". Croydon Advertiser. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  27. CSW. "Our Team". CSW. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  28. "Julian Speroni". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  29. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  30. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  31. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  32. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  33. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  34. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  35. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  36. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  37. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  38. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  39. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  40. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  41. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  42. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  43. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  44. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  45. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  46. "Games played by Julian Speroni in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  47. Fletcher, Paul (27 May 2013). "Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015.
  48. McNulty, Phil (21 May 2016). "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
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